Road machine



May 7, 1935. R. GEDsTAD `ROAD MACHINE FiledFeb. 2, 195s '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Rudolph Gedsfad A Trofeo/;

R. GEDSTAD ROAD MACHINE May 7, 1935.

Filed Feb. 2, 1955 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR. 'Pudo/Ph Gedstdd ATToR/Wzv May 7, 1935. R, GEDs'rAD ROAD MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 o/ph Gedsmd ATTORNEL/` May 7, 1935. R. GEDSTAD 2,000,072

ROAD MACHINE Filed Feb- 2, 1953 '7 Shets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 2, 1955 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZOG I N V EN TOR. @udo /ph Geds fad May 7, 1935. R. GEDSTAD 2,000,072

ROAD MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 NVENTOR. Eads/ph Gea/5 fdd Patented UNlTED nom MACHINE Rudolph' Genua, Peoria, m.. animano omrpillar Tractor Co., San Leandro, Calif., a cor- A poration of California Application February 2, 1933, Serial No. 654,863

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to road machines, and particularly to driving means for the carriers of elevating graders.

Elevating graders are used in earth moving jobs such as casting in from ditches, and building levees and the like where material is loaded at one-place and conveyed by wagons or trucks to another location. As the machine moves forward the plow digs the earth and casts it on the lower end of an endless carrier belt which is supported on an inclined carrier frame and is driven to elevate the earth to the upper end of the carrier where it is discharged. In operation a continuous mass or material several inches deep and approximateiy a yard in width moves in a constant stream as the carrier belt is driven. When operation of the carrier belt is to be stopped, it is necessary to disengage the plow from the earth and allow the carrier belt to discharge all the material thereon so that when it has stopped no material remains on the belt to cause it to run backward. While this extra running of the carrier belt causes a loss of time and often extra work in elevating material which is not used, due to th fact that there' is no wagon toreceive it or that the elevating grader is making a turn, even more disadvantageous consequences are entailed if the conveyer isnot cleared lof material. This is true because the weight of material causes the carrier belt to run reversely and the mass cf earth thereon is piled up around the lower end of the carrier and plow. 'I'his situation also occurs whenever the carrier belt is stopped unintentionally during operation. Such piling up of earth around the lower end of the carrier and the plow entails several undesirable results in that it is frequently necessary to remove the earth from around the carrier and plow before operation is resumed, and also due to the fact that earth often gets onto the lower stretch of the carrier belt clogging the rollers and often tearing they belt if operation is resumedA before it is removed. i

'I'he present invention does away with the above disadvantageous features by providing a nonreversible'drive for the carrier belt which is automatically locked against reverse movement. 'I'hus in an elevating grader incorporating the invention disclosed herein, operation o1' the carrier belt can be stopped at any time without entailing undesirable consequences. No time is lost in clearing the carrier before stopping operation and no material is wasted while waiting fora Vwagon to be loaded or in making turns. Furthermore, whenever the carrier belt is stopped unintentionally, it is automatically locked against reverse movement so that the material remains in position thereon and when repairs are compiete-c. and operation is resumed, no delay is encountered as would be the case if the carrier beit had run reversely and piled up material at the low-er end of the carrier. A further advantageous feature is found in the invention disclosed herein in that the non-reversible means in the carrier can be disabled whenever it is desired to run carrier belt in reverse direction, as, for instance. when repairing the belt at the splice or when removing the belt from the machine.

Statement of invention It is an object of the invention tc provide proved driving means for the carrier belt of an elevating carrier. l

Another object of the invention is to provide an elevating grader in which operation of the carrier belt can be interrupted and resumed with no delay and no loss of earth dug by the plow.

Another object of the invention is the provision of irreversible driving means for the carrier belt of an elevating grader.

Another object of. the invention is to provide an elevating grader having angendless carrier belt which is blocked automatically against reverse movement.

Another object of the invention is the provz sion of a brake for preventing reverse movement of the carrier belt of an elevating grader.

Another` object of the invention is the provision of a brake for the carrier belt of an elevat- -ing grader which is adapted to lock the belt automatically against reverse movement, and which can be disabled at the will of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to provide driving means for the carrier belt of an elevating grader including irreversible means associated with a clutch-driven shaft.

Other'objects will appear as'the description progresses.

. Description of figures Fig. 5 is a plan view of the rear end of the machine with certain parts shown in section.

Fig. '6 is a view on the` line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Figs. 7-9 illustrate one form of the automatic locking brake. I

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of the power unit with the brake shown in section.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section of the brake.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 3--9 in Fig. 8.

Figs. 10-12 illustrate a second form of the automatic locking brake.

Fig. 10 is a. view on the line Ill-I0 in Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the idler sprocket having the brake associated therewith.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I2-I2 in Fig. 11.

DESCRIPTION or' MECHANISM Frame The frame of the machine includes longitudinal channel I, forming the left side frame member as viewed from the rear of the machine (Figs. 1 and 6), channels 2, 3 and 4 connected by a plurality of vertical posts 6 (Fig. 2) forming the right side frame member. Front cross channel 'I (Figs. 2 and 3) is secured to the front ends of channels I and 2, and rear cross channel 8 (Fig. 5) is secured to the rear ends of channels I and 4. Central cross channels 9 and I0 (Fig. 3) are connected at their left endsto longitudinal channel I vand at their right ends to the inner ends of channels 2 and 4, respectively.

The front end of the frame is supported by similar forward extensions II (Figs. 2 and 3) which are secured to channels 'I and 9 and bend downwardly at their forward ends to rest on front wheel and axle assembly I2, indicated generally in Fig. 2. The rear end of the frame is supported in any suitable manner on rear wheel and axle assembly I3, indicated generally in Figs. 1 and 2. No detailed description of the wheel and axle assemblies will be given herein as they form no part of the instant invention. The frame members described above are interconnected by suitable braces.

Various auxiliary frameworks are mounted on the frame to provide supports for the adjusting mechanisms of the plow and carrier. Longitudinal framework I6 (Fig. 1) is mounted on the frame above channel I and provides a support for the plow adjusting mechanism. Transverse framework I1 (Figs. 1 and 3) rises from left side channel I to inner posts 6, said framework comprising spaced transverse sections substantially above respective central cross channels 9 and I0 (Fig. 3). Said framework I1 serves to support the carrier adjusting mechanism and the controls for the power unit.

Platform I8 is provided at the rear of the frame (Figs. 1 and 2) and forms an operators station.

Plow and carrier The plow assembly includes longitudinal plow frame channel 2| (Figs. 1 and 6) which carries plow 22 and is supported at each end from shaft 23 (Fig. 1) on framework I6 by chains 24, only one of which is seen in Fig. 1. Hand wheel 25 on shaft 23 provides a means for raising or lowering the plow which is provided with' a suitable draft connection (not shown) to the front wheel and axle assembly. Connection 26 (Fig. 6) serves to determine the lateral adjustment of the plow with respect tothe frame of the machine 'and the elevating carrier.

As described hereinbefore. the plow is adapted to cast earth on the elevating carrier at the lower end thereof, and an endless carrier belt mounted on the carrier lserves to elevate the earth and discharge it at the upper end of said carrier. The carrier assembly comprises upper carrieror section 3l (Fig. 1) and lower carrier or section 32 which are pivotally connected at 33. .Each of said sections is provided with sideboards 34 to guide the material being elevated, said sideboards 34 being supported by brackets 36 from side frame members 36 which are connected by suitable braces.

Means are provided for adjusting lower carrler 32 to vary the position of said section with respect to the ground and to vary the inclination at which material is elevated. A pair of chains 31, only one of which is seen in Fig. 1, have their lower ends secured to opposite side members 36 of said lower section 32 and their upper ends secured to shaft 38 suitably mounted on framework I1 and provided with hand wheel 39 for winding or unwinding said chains 31 about said shaft 33 to raise or lower the lower carrier.

Means are provided for adjusting upper carrier 3| to vary the height at which the material is discharged. A pair of chains 4I (Fig. 1) are provided, only one of which is seen in Fig. l, which are connected at one end to framework Il, pass over sheaves 42 suitably connected to opposite sides of upper carrier 34 adjacent the end'thereof and have their other ends secured to shaft 43 which is provided with hand-wheel 44 and is mounted on said framework I l. By operating hand-wheel 44, the elevation of upper carrier 3I is adjusted to vary the height at which elevated material is discharged.

Means are provided for adjusting the carrier center to maintain equal inclinations of the upper and lower carrier sections. A pair of bars 46, only one of which is seen in Fig. 1, have their lower ends connected by a shaft which extends below the carrier adjacent pivotal connection 33, and said bars 46 engage suitable frame members to guide their movements. Said bars 46 are provided with racks adjacent their upper ends which are'operated simultaneously by suitable gearing from shaft 41 mounted on framework I1 and having hand-wheel 48.

The endless carrier belt referred to hereinbefore is mounted on rollers in the carrier and is driven from the engine in a manner to be described hereinafter. Carrier belt 5I passes over driving drum 52 (Fig. l) adjustably mounted in the outer end of upper `carrier 3|, idler rollers 53 (Figs. l, 5 and 6) suitably journaled in side frame members 36, and larger idler roller 64 suitably journaled in the outer end of lower carrier 32. The idler rollers support the upper stretch of the carrier belt which is driven by drum 52 to elevate the earth cast thereon by the plow. 'Ihe driving means for said drum 52 is described hereinafter.

Thus it is seen that the elevating carrier isv adjustable at each end and at its center, being provided with an endless carrier belt adapted to elevate and discharge earth from the upper end of the carrier.

Power unit and carrier belt drive The power unit comprises an engine having crankcase |00 (Fig. 3), and clutch housing III bolted to the rear end of said crankcase. Cover |02 for said clutchA housing IUI has an offset portion resting on and bolted to said crosschannel 9 which forms a support for the rear end of the power unit. The front end of the power unit is resiliently supported on front cross channel 1. Curved bracket |03 (Figs. 3 and 4) has its ends secured to crankcase and the downwardly curved central portion thereof rests on angle |04 which is secured to said channel 1. Bolt |06 has threaded engagement with said bracket |03 centrally thereof and extends downwardly through the aperture in the horizontal flange of said angle |04, spring |01 being placed on said bolt between angle |04 and nut |00. Thus it is 'seen that a resilient front support is provided for the power unit which also permits a limited lateral oscillation thereof. f

The drive for the carrier belt is transmitted from crankshaft (Fig. 7) through clutch 2 to clutch driven shaft ||3. Clutching and declutching of clutch ||2 is controlled by similar arms I |4, one of which is seen in Fig. 7, clamped on shaft and engaging opposite pins ||6 on clutch thrust collar ||1. Said shaft ||5 is suitably journaled in clutch housing |0| and extends therethrough (Fig. 3). Arm ||8 secured on shaft ||5 outside of housing |0| has connection ||9 with arm secured on transverse shaft |2| suitably journaled in framework I1. Clutch control lever |22 provides a manually operable means for controlling clutching or declutching. Throttle control |23 for the engine is also suitably mounted on framework i1.

The drive is transmitted from clutch driven shaft ||3 through gear connection |30 (Fig. 7) to shaft |3| mounted in bearings |32, |33 in housing |0| and cover |02. Gear |34 mounted on shaft |3| between said bearings |32, |33 meshes with gear |35 mounted on shaft |36, indicated in dotted lines. Said shaft |36 extends through cover |02 and has universal joint |31 with shaft |38 (Figs. 3 and 7) which is supported at its rear end in housing |39 on frame bracket |4| secured to cross channel |0 (Figs. 5 and 6). Sprocket wheel |42 is mounted on shaft |38 adjacent the end thereof and chain |43 connects said sprocket wheelY |42 to larger sprocket wheel |44 on shaft |45 suitably journaled in housing |46 mounted on frame bracket |41. Smaller sprocket wheel |48 is also fast on said shaft |45 and through chain |49 indicated diagrammatically in Figs. l, 5 and 6, drives sprocket wheel |5| (Fig. l) fast on shaft |52 which carries carrier belt driving drum 52. Said chain |49 passes over suitable idlers |53 intermediate its length.

Means are provided for adjusting the tension on sprocket chain |43 which connects sprocket wheels |42 and |44. Idler sprocket |56 (Fig. 6) engages said chain |43 and is oscillatable to vary the tension thereon. Said sprocket |56 (Fig. l0) has integral hub |51 which is rotatably mounted on stub shaft |58 which is mounted in crank |59 having hub |60 engaging shaft |6| mounted in bracket |62 on framerbracket |4|. Hub |60 has extension |63 to which hand lever |64 is riveted. It is seen, therefore, that by oscillating lever |64, sprocket wheel |56 is oscillated to vary the tension on chain |43. Releasable means are provided for maintaining the sprocket wheel in adjusted position. Arcuate ratchet |66 isv mounted on frame bracket |4| and pawl |61 (Fig. l0) slidably mounted on lever |64 is adapted to cooperate therewith. Said pawl |61 is moved into or out of engagement with ratchet |66 by auxiliary handle |68 (Figs. 6 and l0) pivoted on said lever |64.

From the foregoing description it is seen that a controllable drive is provided for the carrier belt.

v 3 As pointed out in the introduction, it is desirable that reverse movement of the carrier belt be eliminated and means are provided for preventing such reverse movement. An irreversible means in the form of an automatic locking brake is associated with a clutch driven shaft. As illustrated in Fig. 8, shaft l|3| projects beyond bearing |33, and the end thereof .is housed in spacer 20 secured between clutch housing cover |02 and brake cover 202 by bolts 203, certain of which also serve to maintain bearing retainer 204 in place. Within spacer 20|, cam 206 (Figs. 8 and 9) is secured on shaft |3| by key 201 adjacent bearing |33 and said cam is provided with a plurality of offset cam surfaces 208 forming equally spaced pocketsbetween said cam and said spacer. It is to be noted that said pockets are deeper at one end than at the other. Said cam 206 is laterally positioned by spacers 209, which engage bearing |33, and nut 2|0 on said shaft |3|, respectively. As shown in Fig. 8, the circumferential portions of cam 206 are laterally rounded.

Braking elements are disposed within the pockets formed between the spacer and the cam which are adapted to lock said spacer and said cam automatically against relative movement in one direction, while. permitting relative movement therebetween in the opposite direction.

A roller 2| (Figs. 8 and 9) is provided in each pocket and said rollers are of a diameter to permit rotation of the shaft |3| and cam 206 when disposed in the deepest portion of the pocket during clockwise rotation, in the direction indicated by the arrow in full lines in Fig. 9, but become wedged between cam surfaces 208 and spacer 20| upon rotation of said shaft |3| and cam 206 in a counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow in dotted lines in Fig. 9. Resilient means are provided for urging rollers 2| to locking position whenever clockwise rotation of said shaft |3| and said cam 206 ceases. (Fig. 9) are disposed in apertures formed in substantially radial portions 2|3 of said cam surfaces 208 and are integrally recessed to receive springs 2|4 which urge said plungers 2|2 outwardly against rollers 2| During clockwise rotation of shaft |3|, that is, when the carrier belt is being driven to elevate material, rollers 2|| are forced against plungers 2,|2, pushing them inwardly against the pressure of springs 2|4. However, if such clockwise rotation ceases, or if counterclockwise rotation ensues, plungers 2 l2 urge rollers 2 to locking position where they are wedged between cam surfaces 208 and spacer 20|, thus eiectively preventing'backward movement of the carrier belt and the driving train therefor.

In a second form of the invention, an automatic locking brake is associated with idler sprocket |56. As shown in Fig. 1l, sprocket hub |51 is mounted on bearings 22|, 222 on shaft |58, spacer 223 being interposed between said bearings. Fixed on shaft |58 to the right of bearing 222 is cam 226, similar to said cam 206, and positioned between spacers 221. The right hand spacer engages outer hub 228 of crank |59. The entire assembly is secured on shaft |58 by nut 229 which holds washer 23| against bearing 22|. Cover 232 is bolted to hub |51 closing the outer end, while seal 233 is seated within the inner end of sleeve |51 and engages hub 228. Cam 226 (Fig. l2) is provided with cam surfaces 234 simi- ',lar to cam surfaces 200, forming pockets in which Plungers 2 |2 rollers 235 are positioned, said rollers being engaged by plungers 236 having springs 231 disposed therein. The operation of cam 226, rollers 235 and hub |51 is similar to that described in connection with cam 205, rollers 2|| and spacer 20|, except that in the latter instance cam 225 is stationary, rollers 235 permitting rotation of hub |51 in the direction of the arrow in full lines in Fig. l2, and preventing rotation thereof in the direction of the arrow in dotted lines.

Means are provided for disabling the irreversible means to permit backward movement of the carrier belt when such movement is desired. As previously described, sprocket |55 and crank |59 are oscillatable about shaft 15| by means of hand lever |64 and when said sprocket |55 is completely disengaged from sprocket chain |43, the carrier belt and the driving means therefor are free to move in a backward direction.

Thus it is seen that the driving means for the carrier belt Yincludes irreversible means in the form of an automatic locking brake, which can be disabled selectively according to the second form of the invention.

I, therefore, claim as my invention:

1. In an elevating grader, a frame, a carrier adjustably supported in said frame, a carrier belt on said carrier, a motor mounted in said frame, a clutch housing, means for driving said belt from said motor including a clutch, a clutch-driven shaft, and means for preventing reverse movement of said belt comprising a cam on said shaft having odset cam surfaces, a tubular member secured to said housing and surrounding said cam, said odset cam surfaces and the inner surface of said member forming pockets having substantially radial walls adjacent the deeper ends thereof, rollers in said pockets, and spring-pressed plungers seated in said walls and engaging said rollers, said plungers serving to urge said rollers into engagement with said surfaces to lock said cam against reverse movement.

2. In an elevating grader, a frame, a carrier adjustably supported in said frame, a carrier belt on said carrier, a motor mounted in said frame, a clutch housing, means for driving said belt from said motor including a clutch, a first clutchdriven shaft, a second clutch-driven shaft, a gear connection between said shafts, and means for preventing reverse movement of said belt comprising a cam on said second shaft having odset cam surfaces, a tubular member secured to said housing and surrounding said cam, said odset cam surfaces and the inner surface of said member forming pockets having substantially radial walls adjacent the deeper ends thereof, rollers in said pockets, and spring-pressed plungers seated in said walls and engaging said rollers, said plungers serving to urge said rollers into engagement with said surfaces to lock said cam against reverse movement.

3. In an elevating grader a frame, a carrier adjustably supported in said frame, a carrier belt on said carrier, a motor mounted in said frame, a clutch housing, -means for driving said belt from said motor including a clutch, a clutchdriven shaft, a bearing support for said shaft, and means for preventing reverse movement of said belt comprising a cam on said shaft adjacent said bearing support having odset cam surfaces, a tubular member secured to said housing and surrounding said cam, said odset cam surfaces and the inner surface of said member forming pockets having substantially radial walls adjacent the deeper ends thereof, rollers in said pockets, and spring-pressed plungers seated in said walls and engaging said rollers. said plungers serving to urge said rollers intoengagement with said surfaces to lock said cam against reverse movement.

4. In an elevating grader, a frame, a carrier adjustably supported in said frame, a carrier belt on said carrier, a motor mounted in said/frame, a clutch housing, means for driving said belt from said motor including a clutch, a first clutchdriven shaft, a second clutch-driven shaft, a gear connection between said shafts, a bearing support for said second shaft, and means for preventing reverse movement of said belt comprising a cam on said second shaft adjacent said bearing support having odset cam surfaces, a tubular member secured to said housing and surrounding said cam, said offset cam surfaces and the inner surface of said member forming pockets having substantially radial walls adjacent the deeper ends thereof, rollers in said pockets, and spring-pressed plungers seated in said walls and engaging said rollers, said plungers serving to urge said rollers into engagement with said surfaces to lock said cam against reverse movement.

5. In an elevating grader, a frame, a carrier adjustably supported in said frame, a carrier belt on said carrier, a source of power, a clutch housing, means for driving said belt from said source of power including a clutch, a clutchdriven shaft, and means for preventing reverse movement of said belt comprising a cam on said shaft having odset cam surfaces, a tubular member secured to said housing and surrounding said cam, said odset cam surfaces and the inner surface of said member forming pockets having substantially radial walls adjacent the deeper ends thereof, rollers in said pockets, and springpressed plungers seated in said walls and engaging said rollers, said plungers serving to urge said rollers into engagement with said surfaces to lock said cam against reverse movement.

6. In an elevating grader, a frame, a carrier v adjustably supported in said frame, a carrier belt on said carrier, a source of power, a clutch housing, means for driving said belt from said source of power including a clutch, a first clutchdriven shaft, a second clutch-driven shaft, a gear connection between said shafts, and means for preventing reverse movement of said belt cornprising a cam on said second shaft having odset cam surfaces, a tubular member secured to said housing and surrounding said cam, said odset cam surfaces and the inner surface of said member forming pockets having substantially radial walls adjacent the deeper ends thereof, rollers in said pockets, and spring-pressed plungers seated in said walls and engaging said rollers, said plungers serving to urge said rollers into engagement with said surfaces to lock said cam against reverse movement.

7. In an elevating grader, a frame, a carrier adjustably supported from said frame, conveyor means on Ysaid carrier, a source of power, means for driving said conveyor means from said source of power including a clutch, a clutch-driven shaft, and means for preventing reverse movement 'of said conveyor means comprising a cam on said shaft having odset cam surfaces, a stationary member surrounding saidV cam, said odset cam surfaces and the inner surface of said stationary member forming pockets, each pocket having a deep end and a shallow end, and locking ele-` `tionary member and said cam surfaces adjacent the shallow ends of said pockets upon reverse movement of said conveyor means.

8. In an elevating grader, a frame, a carrier adjustably supported from said frame, conveyor means on said carrier, a source of power, means for driving said conveyor means from said source of power including a clutch, a clutch-driven shaft, and means for preventing reverse movement of said conveyor means comprising a member rotatable with said shaft having offset cam surfaces, a stationary member surrounding said rotatable member, said offset cam surfaces and the inner surface of said stationary member forming pockets, each pocket having a deep end and a shallow end, and locking elements in said pockets, said elements being disposed in said deep ends during operative movement of said driving means and being adapted to wedge between said inner surface of said stationary member and said cam surfaces adjacent the shallow ends of said pockets upon reverse movement of said conlo veyor means.

RUDOLPH GEDSTAD. 

